Danica Patrick gives back to the fans after her morning test session at Daytona International Speedway. / John Raoux, AP

by Jeff Gluck, USA TODAY Sports

by Jeff Gluck, USA TODAY Sports

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers are spending three days this week testing the new Gen 6 cars at Daytona International Speedway, trying to get themselves comfortable for next month's Daytona 500.

But one driver might not have to worry as much about duplicating the feel from the old cars. That's because Danica Patrick, who will be a rookie in the Cup Series this season, hasn't had enough experience to know what she's looking for.

"I think the new car is probably a positive for me," she told reporters Thursday at Daytona after a morning test session. "Everybody is starting off on a little bit more of a level playing field and ­­­-- who knows -- maybe this new car will play into my driving style better than the old one."

Patrick's morning session yielded a fast lap of 192.583 mph, third best behind Matt Kenseth and Marcos Ambrose. In the afternoon session, she posted a fast lap of 192.934 mph, seventh-best among 34 drivers.

Patrick said the new car represents a "clean sheet of paper" for her and the series, but she's hopeful it will play to her benefit. She's heard the Gen 6 car drives more like a Nationwide Series car than the old Cup car did, and she's eager to discover if that familiar feel will help her.

The Go Daddy-sponsored driver spent last season racing full-time in the Nationwide Series, recording four top-10 finishes and finishing 10th in the season points standings. She has 58 races of experience in a Nationwide car, which dwarfs her 10 Cup starts.

She likely won't learn much this week, though. Aside from finding out how the cars handle in drafting, it's tough for drivers to make judgments about their vehicles at restrictor-plate tracks. Next week's Charlotte test on Jan. 17-18 should provide Patrick and the other drivers with more information.

Now paired with former Ryan Newman crew chief Tony Gibson at Stewart-Haas Racing, Patrick said she's optimistic her team can stay positive and relaxed through what will be "undoubtedly tough days" this season as she continues to face a steep learning curve in Cup. Running a full season against the country's best race car drivers will be a challenge.

Patrick ended last season on a positive note, though, becoming more competitive as the season progressed. She finished 17th at Phoenix International Raceway in her final start of 2012.

"It's great to go into the season and think, 'Gosh, we left off so well and we should run in the top 10 or 15 now every weekend,'" she said. "But I think it's going to be tough to do that every weekend given it's my first year. I think everybody's got the right attitude. Everybody's excited."

Patrick also confirmed she won't race in this year's Indianapolis 500 (which is consistent with what she'd said toward the end of last season) so she can focus on the Coca-Cola 600 and her rookie Cup campaign.

Patrick also said nothing has been finalized yet in talks with Turner Scott Motorsports to run a handful of Nationwide races this season.